Most homo sapiens use thumbs to do their texting, but I have seen some who use their index fingers.

Humans will lose their fingers in the future.

They will be all thumbs.

No more flipping birds!

O.E. þuma, from W.Gmc. *thumon- (cf. O.Fris. thuma, O.S., O.H.G. thumo, Ger. Daumen, Du. duim "thumb," O.N. þumall "thumb of a glove"), lit. "the stout or thick (finger)," from PIE *tum- "swell" (cf. L. tumere "to swell," tumidus "swollen;" Avestan tuma "fat;" see thigh). For spelling with -b (attested from late 13c.), see limb.To be under (someone's) thumb "be totally controlled by that person" is recorded from 1580s. Thumbs up (1887) and thumbs down (1906) were said to be from expressions of approval or the opposite in ancient amphitheaters, especially gladiator shows, where the gesture decided whether a defeated combatant was spared or slain. But the Roman gesture was merely one of hiding the thumb in the hand or extending it. Perhaps the modern gesture is from the usual coachmen's way of greeting while the hands are occupied with the reins.

***

The
thumb.

Where would we be without it?

What could we have done
without it?

We would not have been able to build our bridges, make our
bombs....or paint our paintings!

(Yes, I know people can paint with their mouths and
feet)

Our fingers would not have done as much walking without our
thumbs.

(I'm just pulling your thumb on this one)

Jimi Hendrix
would not have been able to play his psychedelic licks.

It’s amazing that
as embryonic fish we humans became so handsome and beautiful---so wicked or
good---and developed our opposable
thumbs to boot.

Imagine all of the things that could not be done without
thumbs.

I am using my right thumb as I type to hit the space
bar.

I could do this with my index finger, but it would be less
convenient.

Other things that could not be done without our
thumbs:

FLICKING OUR BICS

HOLDING OUR PENCILS

(I ALMOST
RHYMED THIS WITH THE FIRST ONE)

CLIPPING OUR TOE AND FINGER
NAILS

THROWING A FOOTBALL

HOLDING OUR SPOONS AND FORKS

(WE
COULD STILL HOLD THEM BUT IT WOULD BE LESS EASY)

CHANGING CHANNELS ON OUR
REMOTES(IT’S EASIER WITH THUMBS)

HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL ON
VEHICLES

GRIPPING THE HANDLEBARS ON MOTORCYCLES AND BIKES

NO GREEN
THUMBS!

NO SUCKING THUMBS!

WE COULDN'T BE ALL THUMBS!

AND THE STORY OF
TOMTHUMB WOULD NEVER HAVE COME!

Please write me---with or without
your thumbs---and tell me more about the goodly uses of our humble
thumbs.